Europeans Explore the East

KEY IDEA Driven by the desire for wealth and Christian converts, Europeans began an age of exploration.

Europeans Begin to ExploreFor many centuries, Europeans had been largely, though not completely, isolated from contact with people from other lands.

That changed in the 1400s. One reason for this change was that Europeans hoped to gain new sources of wealth.

The three primary motives for exploration: God – Glory - Gold

Factors That Encourage Exploration: God

Catholic Church was losing members to the Protestant faithNew souls = new tax base for churchCatholic nations lead the way: Jesuits from Spain and PortugalGoal: create a Christian land across the sea.

Factors That Encourage Exploration: Glory

Chance to become wildly famousShould an expedition get all the way to Asia, all involved would be rememberedLand, power, title all await any explorer who brings glory to the sponsor

Factors That Encourage Exploration: Gold

Great hordes of gold await in the new world

Legends of King Solomon’s Mines and the golden city of El Dorado are on the front of every explorer’s mind

A caravel of treasure for the sponsor means great wealth for you!

The CaravelAdvances in technology made these voyages possible.

A new kind of ship, the caravel, was stronger built than earlier ships. It had triangle-shaped sails that allowed it to sail against the wind.

The Magnetic Compass

Ships could now travel far out into the ocean. The magnetic compass allowed sea captains to better stay on course.

Portugal Leads the WayThe first nation to develop and use these new technologies was Portugal.

That nation’s Prince Henry was deeply committed to the idea of exploring beyond the seas.

In 1419, he started a school of navigation where sea captains, mapmakers, and navigators could meet, learn, and exchange ideas. Prince Henry the Navigator

The Portuguese Explore Africa

Over the next few decades, Portuguese captains sailed farther and farther down the west coast of Africa.

Bartolomeu Dias

In 1488, Bartolomeu Dias led the first voyage to reach the southern tip of Africa.

Dias’ motives were “to serve God and his majesty, to give light to those who were in darkness and grow rich as all men desire to do.” Bartolomeu Dias

Vasco da Gama Finds a Route to Asia

Ten years later, Vasco da Gama led a ship 27,000 miles around Africa, to India, and back. The Portuguese had found a sea route to Asia.

Vasco da Gama

Christopher Columbus

The Spanish, meanwhile, had plans of their own.

Italian sailor Christopher Columbus convinced the king Ferdinand and queen Isabella that he could reach Asia by sailing west.

In 1492, instead of landing in Asia, Columbus touched land in the islands of the Americas, land unknown to Europeans.

Christopher Columbus

Columbus’ Voyages Pave the Way

Explorer Pedro Cabral claims Brazil for Portugal

Vasco Nunez Balboa voyages to the Pacific Ocean

Ferdinand Magellan is the first to sail around the globe (kind of)

Primary goal: build colonies!

Treaty of Tordesillas: The Line of Demarcation

Spain and Portugal argued over which nation had the rights to the land in the New World

In 1494, they signed the Treaty of Tordesillas. It divided the world into two areas. Portugal won the right to control the eastern parts and Spain the western parts— including most of the Americas.

Portugal’s Trading EmpirePortugal moved quickly to make the new Indian Ocean route pay off.

In 1509, it defeated a Muslim fleet off the coast of India and thus became the master of Indian trade.

Soon, it captured cities in India and the Malay peninsula. Portugal now had power over islands that were so rich in desirable spices that they were called the Spice Islands.

Spain Builds an American Empire

Cortez explores Mexico and conquers the Aztec Empire with his small conquistador militia

Pizzaro explores Peru and conquers the Inca Empire

Disease and slavery decimate the Native populations of Central and South America

Spain Expands Its Influence

The Spanish advance into North America

Spanish missionaries follow the soldiers and establish Catholic Missions. Governments follow the encomienda system.

Native American peoples resist Spanish colonization in a variety of ways

European Nations Settle North America

French colonize the St. lawrence and Mississippi River valleys – begin the fur trade

English settle in at Jamestown and seek religious freedom; 15 years later, Pilgrims head to Plymouth colony.

Dutch encourage a diverse population in New Netherland

The Fight for North America

The English drive the Dutch from New Netherland and rename the colony New York

Seven Years’ War in Europe spills over into conflicts between French and English colonists in North America

English defeat the French and rule Eastern North America

Native American Reaction

French and Dutch fur traders cooperate,

at least at first, with native American peoples

English colonization sparks conflict with

native Americans over land and religion

Metacom engages the English in King

Phillip’s War (epic fail)

Smallpox, measles, and influenza continue

to decimate the Native populations